Pilot fatigue?

[JG27*PapaFly]

Would you like to have pilot fatigue implemented as a realism option?

 

It was a huge factor in WW2 air combat. The developers spend a lot of efort on getting the limits of the planes' systems right, when in fact pilot fatigue was one of the most limiting factors.

 

I think it could be implemented very easily. The game already calculates stick and pedal forces. Make all pilots equal and provide each with a given energy reserve and a constant energy recovery rate (this is mostly a function of the liver's metabolic rate; plenty of published data is available). Plot the sum of the applied stick and pedal forces vs. time in a diagram. Add an additional force as a factor to the applied positive g forces (e.g. 100 N per g). This is to take into account that pilots must contract their leg, buttocks and abdominal muscles under positive g in order to maintain physiological blood pressure levels in the brain and thus remain conscious.

The integral of the total force vs. time diagram is your maneuvering-induced energy depletion rate. Substract that from the constant energy recovery rate and you have your total energy trend.

 

Start limiting the available stick forces as a first low energy threshold is reached (yellow level in the hud energy indicator). The less energy, the less available stick force. At these levels, a full energy recovery can be achieved after enough time.

If the energy is depleted to the red level, only a partial energy recovery is possible. This is to simulate the fact that exhausted, over-strained muscles will in reality not recover to full capacity until earliest next day.

Edited December 1, 2018 by JG27_PapaFly

[336th_Porkie-]

wouldn't ergonomics also play a role, some aircraft require less effort to fly. the time spent just sitting in a BF 109 would be different than sitting in P-47.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Yeah, then throw in stimulant/amphetamine option when choosing load out. 

[FoxbatRU]

I vote - yes! But! It is necessary that bots also have fatigue.